Investigation: DNR officer used state resources for firearms-training business

Thursday

Sep 14, 2017 at 2:10 PMSep 14, 2017 at 3:07 PM

Randy Ludlow The Columbus Dispatch @RandyLudlow

An Ohio Department of Natural Resources law enforcement officer improperly used a state computer and state time to operate a personal firearms-training business, Ohio's inspector general says.

A report Thursday by the office of Inspector General Randall J. Meyer said the officer, Scott Santos, committed a "wrongful act" by misusing state resources.

The investigation found that Santos, who was paid $65,750 last year, conducted firearms training during off-duty hours at the shooting range at Delaware Wildlife Area, near Ashley in Delaware County.

Among his customers were eight investigators from Auditor Dave Yost's office, which paid Santos $2,606, and the Ashley Police Department, which paid him $1,653, the report said.

Emails and other items pertaining to his firearms training business from 2012 to 2016 were found on his state computer, the report said. Santos paid no fees to the state to use the shooting range, but DNR permits law enforcement agencies to use it without charge.

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Santos admitted the allegations against him, saying he does not conduct firearms training as a business, but rather as a "favor to friends."

The inspector general recommended that Natural Resources determine if Santos should be disciplined and to review IT and secondary employment policies with employees.

A DNR spokesman said an internal investigation of Santos' conduct is under way. DNR officials asked Meyer's office to investigate in July 2016, when Santos was relieved of his law enforcement duties and given administrative work, the spokesman said.